Old Greenwich Home Damaged by Early Morning Fire

Photo: Greenwich Fire. Credit: Barbara Heins.

GREENWICH, CT — Two residents escaped injury when they fled their Old Greenwich home that erupted in flames early Monday.

Greenwich Deputy Fire Marshal Rob Natale said that as the first crew was arriving at the 25 West Way home about 1 a.m., they could see smoke in the neighborhood and flames shooting from the roof.

The male resident was awakened by the fire alarm and saw smoke when he entered the kitchen. After awakening the female resident and fleeing from the home, the couple called 911 to confirm there was a fire, Natale said.

The fire damaged the first and second floors and roof of the 5,000 square foot colonial that was posted as uninhabitable by the building department, Natale said.

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The fire was caused when embers apparently fell through a fracture or void in a metal firebox insert in the metal fireplace and ignited the wood underneath, Natale said. “It was a manufactured metal fireplace with a metal firebox. There was no masonry.”

Greenwich Emergency Medical Service treated one firefighter for smoke inhalation at the scene.

A total of five engine companies and a ladder truck responded and were at the scene until nearly 4 a.m.